Steam boiler



Aug. 24, 1926. 1,s97,222

E. H. VINCENT STEAM BOILER Filed June 14. 1922 2 sheets-sheen ar m. I 1 A E. H. VINCENT,

STEAM BOILER 2 Shets-Sheet 2 Filed June 14. 1922 Inventor l'rneSiIZ Vincent M Q r iorneys II I 1111/, I

Patented Aug. 24, 1926.

Fl C E ERNEST H.

VINCENT, 0F OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR OFONE-HALF TO HERMAN CHRISTENSEN, OF FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

STEAM BOILER.

Application filed June 14, 1922. Serial 1V0. 565,135.

This invention relates to a steam boiler, and particularly pertains to a boiler adapted to be used inconnection with automobiles, tractors, and the like.

It is the principal object of the present invention to provide a steam boiler of the type shown in my Patent No. 1,851,500, issued August 31st, 1920, and entitled Steam boiler, in which class of structures a plurality of units are compactly assembled to form a steam boiler of small dimensions and great efficiency. 1

.The present invention contemplates the use of boiler sections, each comprising a plurality of water columns through which a circulation oi 'water may be maintained, the center of said columns carrying flue pipes whereby each column may be exteriorly and interiorly heated, the units further incorporating means for insuring a thorough circulation of water in the tubes.

The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a view in vertical sectionand side elevation, showing the general assembly arrangement of the boiler.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view in sectionand elevation showii'ig the manner in which the various units are assembled.

Fig. 3 is a view in ,vertical section and front elevation showing the boiler, and more particularly disclosing the construction whereby increased circulation of the water may be brought about.

Referring more particularly to the draw ings, indicates a fire-box, within which any suitable heat generating means may be disposed. This fire-box is inclosed by a wall of heat insulating material as indicated at 11, and it is preferable to cover this wall with an outer section of sheet metal 12. Disposed above the fire-box and in commu nication therewith is a boiler housing 13 which incloses the boiler '14 and supports a cover 15, within which a steam dome 16 is positioned. The boiler is composed of a plurality of units 17 which intercommunicate.

As more clearly shown in Fig. 3, each unit comprises, a lower. header 18, an upper header 19 parallel thereto and spaced therefrom, and a plurality of parallel water columns 20 providing communication between the two headers The water columns are preferably welded in position, their lower ends extending into the lower wall of the upper header and the upper wall of the lower header, Through certain of these columns heat tubes 21 extend. These tubes are of smaller diameter than the tubes forming the columns, thus providing an annular water circulating space around the heat tubes. The lower endsot the tubes pass entirely through the header l8 and permit the prodnets of combustion and heat from the firebox to circulate up through the tubes and out into thetop of the housing, as the upper ends of the heat tube-s extend through the upper headers.

The boiler units are a maximum circulation of the water in the units, and thus an etlicient production of steam, this being accomplished by the diagonal circulating passageways 22. These passageways extend downwardly from the water line, and diagonally across the unit, insuring intercommunication of the various columns with each other at points below the water line of the boiler. It is to be understood that the boiler units are made in multiple, and that they are alternately reversed in their arrangement so that the circulating passageways 22 of adjacent units lie in intersecting planes as shown in Fig. 3. Removable plugs 23 are placed in the opposite ends ofthe circulating passageways so that theymay be cleaned if desired. The center column 20 of. each unit is not provided with a heat tube, and the sameis true of one of the end columns in each unit. These insure a more eilective flow of feed water from a supply pipe 2 The upper face of one end of each oi the headers is formed with a tapered opening 25 to receive a steam outlet pipe 26, which pipe connects with the steam dome 27. This dome is in the form of a cylindrical tank extending horizontally above the assembled boiler, and due to the alternate arrangement of the units, the connecting pipe '26 of the adjacent sections alternately connect with opposite sides of the dome. A supply pipe 28 conveys the steam from the dome to a suitable engine. The ends of the upper and lower headers are pro vided with removable plugs 29 which permit these headers to be drained and cleaned.

The various units are held together by stay bolts 30 which extend transversely through the ends of the lower headers 18, as more clearly shown in Fig. 2. These rods are fitconstructed to insure the drawings,

ted with nuts 31 by which the units may be securely clamped together. It is desirable to make a leak-proof connection between the various units, and at the same time to al low slight flexibility so that vibration of thr. vehicle will not tend to break the joint and allow leakage of steam and water. This is done in the present instance by the structure as shown in detail in Fig. 2, where it will be seen, that circular bosses, 32 are formed around openings 33 in the-opposite side wall of each of the lower headers. These bosses are counterbore'd, as indicated at 3e, and have an annular ext-ending lip 35', the lip portion being of smaller diameter than the outside diameter of the boss of which it is apart. Similar structures of adjacent headers are in alignment, so that an inner packing ring 36- may be set within the annular chamber formed by aligning counter-bores. and an outer packing ring 37 is disposed, around aligned flange portions 35. Interposed' between the projecting flanges 35 is a copper gasket 38 which produces a seal and assists-the packing rings 36 and 37 in preventing leakage from the headers. Attention is directed to the fact that the width of the packing rings and the distance between shoulders on the headers between which they are interposed is considerably different so that the copper gasket may be compressed without restriction. The opening through which the stay bolts extendin the outermost headers are closed by the nuts 31. The end faces of these nuts are formed with an annular counterbore 39' into which the flange 36 of the header extends. A copper gasket 38 is positioned within the bottom of the counterbore.

In operation of the present inventiomthe boiler is assembled in the manner shown in by placing the boiler-units 1% s de by side, thereafter fitting them with the gaskets 38' and the packing rings 36 and a'ndthen fastening them together by the rods 30. The boiler thus formed may then be positioned above the fire-box l0 and within the housing 13, attention being directed to the fact that the various sections 10. 13 and 15' of the fire-box and the housing may be separated by removing bolts d0 which pass through clamping flanges il. it is also "further-i be noted that angle plat-e542 e tendhorizontally and serve as clamping means forthe ends of the lower headers as seen in Fig. 3:

When all of the structures-have been assembled and suitable connections made with the steam demo, the boiler may be filled to" the water line.- When heat isgenerated within the fire b'oxit-willpass up through the tubes and alsoar ound the columns 20 and between the-headers, thus acting to thoroughly heat the-- water within 7 the columns. The

water then may be free to circulate throughout the lengths of the columns from header to' header, or may circulate through the various columns and along the intercommunieating passageway 22.

It will thus be seen that the boiler here disclosed may be formed of a plurality of rigid units which may be easily fastened together to provide a boiler of desired capacity, and which units will insure that a maximum amount of steam will be generated from the water in the boiler.

lVhile l have shown the preferred form of my invention as now known to me, it will be understood that various changes might be made in the combination, construct-ion and arrangement of parts by those skilled: in the art, without departing from the spirit of theinv .ition, as claimed.

Having thus described my invention, what i claiin'an'd desire to secure by Letters Patcut is 1. A steam boiler including a series of units adapted to be assembled together, said units each comprising upper and lower horizontal headers, vertically disposed water columns connected to the upper and lower headers, heat tubes extending through the columns longitudinally thereof: and transversely through the headers, said upper and lower headers being formed with openings whereby intercommunication is brought about between the adjacent headers, stay bolts passing through certain of said openings in the lower headers whereby the units will be fastened together, an inclined pipe interposed between said headers in the same plane therewith and with which said water columns connect whereby to provide com munication between the water columns and points below the normal water level of the boiler.

A, steam boiler including a series of units adaptedto be assembled together, said units each comprising upper and lower hori zontal headers, vertically disposed water columns connected to the upper and low r headers, heat tubes extending through the colunins longitudinally thereof and transversely through the headers, said upper and lower headers being formed with openings whereby inter-communication is brought about between the adjacent headers, stay bolts passing through certain of. said openings in the lower headers whereby the units will be fastened together, an inclined pipe interposed between said headers in the same plane therewith and with which said'water columns connect whereby toprovide communication between thewater columns. and points below the normal water level of the boiler, said inclined pipes in adjacent headers being oppositely disposed. i

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